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Wow! Another jolly season is here! This year has flown by, leaving me dazed in its wake. :-D How did we get here so fast?? I'll be frank--while this year had a lot of wonderful times, and I wouldn't want to have missed it, I am SOOOO GLAD it's over. *sigh* I knew I was in trouble last December when God told me this would be a year of change. And it sure was!! For this next year, I believe it'll be a year of transition. That doesn't sound AS painful, but still quite challenging in and of itself.

I won't be around much for the next couple of weeks. With that in mind, I'm leaving you with some Christmas carol riddles. Enjoy!!!

First - GREAT news on the homefront. This morning I finished my degree plan for my Bachelor's of Science in Psychology. I can't believe it's FINALLY over. This last course was in Criminal Justice and I might just make a perfect score in the course. I never, ever done that, and I'm thrilled by teh prospect. It all rests on my research paper, which I readily admit was quite difficult. Anyway, I'm asking all my friends to celebrate with me by going out and having a Starbucks drink or something.

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Now, on to more serious matters...

Last week I was contacted by a man for a company called m80 noting that they had read my blog about James Bond's Casino Royale movie and asked if I'd consider reviewing a TV series for Showtime. I was thrilled, yet very nervous! So, here's my official review of this show that airs from Dec 10-19 from 9PM ET/PT.Sleeper Cell: American TerrorThis show is quite interesting. It's a look at what I've always believed to be a reality--terrorists on our soil, allied to extremist causes and/or fundamentalist terrorists. I only got to watch one episode since I don't have Showtime, but what I saw kept my interest although at times it seemed to drag. I detected the normal liberal Hollywood bias here and there.

What I liked:

Oded Fehr who plays Farik, the terrorist - he is practiced, cool, and realistic. Very well executed on Oded's part.

Farik plays with his interrogator's heads quite well. Gotta admit how much I loved that "hot tea" scene. :-D

The emotional value of Darwyn (played by Michael Ealy), the deeply embedded FBI agent's journey. I think this was well done. When his "handler" is killed, it sealed his fate and journey to stopping the terrorist cell.

What I didn't like:

The sex scene. It was totally unnecessary, but-hey, surprise! It was Showtime.

the pacing. For an hour-long episode, it semed to drag, which tells me that something was missing either in the plot or the development of the characters. I'd opt for the former.

The shoddy way the terrorist cell is pulled together. Come on! You CAN'T convince me that Farik would be accepted as the leader after this short amount of time. Give me a break. Groups like this are much more careful and methodical. If the big cheese figured it out, I can't believe he didn't tell anyone else in his group. *sigh*

Well, there is my repose on this new series. I really would've liked to have watched the rest to see how it holds up, to see what they do with this main hero. Anyway--I appreciate the opportunity to look at this show.

The dark hull of a ship loomed ahead, lit by two laterns, one on the bowspprit and the other swinging on the hook on the mizzenmast. Dim light shone through a porthole below the quarterdeck. Three masts covered with tangled rigging towered against the moonlit sky like webbed claws ready to snatch Charlisse from the boat. Most likely an ex-merchant vessl, the tree-masted, square-rigged ship couuld hold up to forty guns. Charlisse wouldn't have known or cared about such things three years ago if she hadn't married a privateer and chosen a life at sea. The longboat scraped and thudded against the hull of the larger ship, and the pirates secured it with cords that dangled from the bulwark. A rope ladder flew down the side, and Charlisse's heart dropped with its descent. The smell of damp wood and gunpowder drifted past her nose. "Come on, littl' missy, up ye go." One of the pirates grabbed her arm and lifted her. He untied the rope binding her hands, then pusehd her toward the ladder. When she didn't move, he leaned over, showering her with his foul breath, and hesitated, his slobbering lips smacking near her ear. Charlisse cringed and clutched the rope, desperate for any escape. The man took a step back and swatted her bottom. "Begone with ye now." The pirates chuckled.Charlisse whirled. "How dare you?" She slapped him full force on his right cheek, but his thick beard softened the sharp impact.Shock claimed the pirate's wicked features. He raised his arm to strike her, but a deep voice from above halted his hand in midair. "What goes on down there? Bring her up, or I'll have you stretched and scaled alive!"That voice. Charlisse knew that voice. Tremors of dread etched their way down her spin. Gazing upward, she saw nothing but darkness and the eerie outline of an immense storm cloud drifting in over the ship.A wave hit the longboat, and she nearly toppled overboard. The sea beckoned. Come. Jump in. Anything but go up that ladder! Laying a hand on her stomach, she thought of the growing life within her and glanced back at the rolling indigo water. Although she had only recently learned to paddle--at Merrick's insistence--she might indeed make it to shore. But could she risk it? She had more to consider now than her own life.The pirate shoved her, and she clambered up the ropes despite the quivering in her knees.At the top, a strong arm grabbed hers and assisted her on deck. Her silk broaced shoes hit the wood planks with a slap. A salty breeze tossed her wayward curls about her face. She looked up. Dark, sinister eyes bored into hers. A crooked grin spread over his lips."Ah, my sweet, we are together again at last." He sauntered toward her. the thud of his tall leather boots ground away at her courage. With one hadn on the hilt of his cutlass, he waved the other through the air, his fingers nearly hidden by a burst of white lace that bulged from the wrist of his black camlet suit. "I have dreamt of thsi moment for quite some time.""Kent," Charlisse hissed between clenched teeth.He flashed a stern look. "Captain Carlton, if you please." Doffing a black hat with a sweep of ostrich feather, he bowed. "Welcome to my ship, the Vanquisher, miss.""Lady Merrick Hyde to you.""Ah, yes. I heard you married that buffoon, Merrick." He shook his head. "Such a waste of your exquisite beauty."Charlisse lifted her chin. "And your charm, sir, is wasted on me. You forget, I know you." The rest of the pirates had climbed over the rail and shuffled off to their posts, casting quick glances her way."What do youwant with me?" Charlisse could hear the crack in her own voice despite her efforts to appear calm. She inched her way toward the railing.Kent leered at her from under heavy lids, following her movments. "What I have always wanted with you."The effect of his licentious comment crept up her spin like a poisonous snake. Charlisse glanced at the swirling water. Perhaps it was better, after all, to risk her life and her child's rather than endure the lecherous advances of this madman.

Last week, the infinitely fickle weather in TExas delivered a FIFTY DEGREE blow...On Wednesday, I picked up my twins from school in cozy 76 degree weather. The next morning, it was 26 degrees. YOWZA!! Here are some photos of my kiddos in the snow later that afternoon after the drizzle and white stuff (we see it so rarely, I'm not sure I remember what it's called LOL).

And because I'm drawing a blank on what to write today...sigh...how bout more pictures. Here is one of me with my beautiful girls at Thanksgiving. Ciara, Ronie, & Keighley

My dear friend Michelle visited me after a vacation with her family in Killeen (she's living in Georgia right now). Here are a few from their visit.